I knew nothing about this issue until Rowan was killed during a “routine” outpatient diagnostic procedure, after doctors openly ignored our repeated pleas for his safety.

In our case, my husband and I had the time, talent, and access to pro-bono medical researchers to present our case on the internet: a luxury that most bereaved parents don’t have..

Even then, after ten months of presenting a solid case of gross negligence, we are still struggling to have the hospital admit fault. We have presented the expert opinions of both doctors and medical researchers, a 5,000 signature petition, and have worked tirelessly on seeking justice at a time when we are suffering in immense grief for our son, raising a small daughter, and trying to fulfill all of life’s other requirements. To this date, we have not been successful at obtaining an investigation by the Medical Board of California, the organization who ultimately has the power to hold our doctors’ accountable. (Though the Dept of Health has recently opened an investigation, their powers are very limited)

I am against making our society more litigious, but parents have no where else to turn. These cases are ignored by those who oversee hospitals and are immune from our criminal justice system. Parents need to go somewhere for help and justice, not be left to fight institutions on their own, and sadly, the civil legal system is usually the only resource available to them.

Now that I am more informed, I realize that the current cap in California does not even cover the cost to the lawyers to try a case, and because of this, cases for children are often simply not tried. I truly wish there was another alternative to find justice, but there doesn’t seem to be.

I don’t care how voters decide on this issue tomorrow, but I do hope that people take the time to become educated. The issue is much more complicated than this simple proposition. My hope is that some kind of change is made to allow families to seek justice for their children.

No one in our society should be able to act without accountability. Especially those who are responsible for our children’s lives.

I am writing this letter in support of Dan and Tracey XXX’s request for a full investigation in to the negligent actions of three doctors involved in the care, and ultimately the death, of their three-year old son, Rowan. Those doctors are: Dr. Raymond Fripp, Cardiologist, Rady Children’s Hospital; Dr. Kathleen Kaya, Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiologist, Rady Children’s Hospital; Dr. John Moore, Chief of Cardiology, Rady Children’s Hospital. As you may now know, Rowan was at Rady to have an elective CT angiogram to evaluate possible coronary artery stenosis. Rowan became hypotensive and bradycardiac while undergoing induction of anesthesia and did not recover from cardiac arrest. Rowan’s doctors and the hospital claim that Rowan died from a “pre-existing condition”, however, the facts surrounding this case do not support their claim. We ask that you investigate those facts, and the negligent actions taken by the doctors involved. Specifically:

Dr. Fripp did not provide accurate information to Rowan’s parents for informed consent, and deliberately misrepresented the risks associated with general anesthesia for children with Williams Syndrome. Additionally, Dr. Fripp did not offer Rowan’s parents, or inform them of, alternatives to anesthesia that carry little to no risk, such as play therapy— despite these alternatives being the standard of care for at risk children at neighboring Children’s Hospitals. 1

Dr. Kaya also misrepresented her knowledge of the anesthetic risk for children with Williams Syndrome and was negligent in her administration of anesthesia to Rowan on the day he died. Not only were the basic standards for all children not followed (e.g. no IV line placed prior to induction, inadequate cardiac monitoring during induction), but the specified recommended standards for children with Williams Syndrome were also ignored by Dr. Kaya.2,3 Their specific complaints are: the use of non-recommended anesthetic agent, the absence of ECMO in the CT room, no IV re-hydration to maintain hemodynamic balance, and inadequate monitoring.

Dr. John Moore deliberately misrepresented the primary reason for the CT scan in the medical record after Rowan’s death. Leading up to the procedure, Rowan’s parents were told a CT was necessary to assess the coronary arteries for signs of stenosis, which they now know if present, significantly increases the risk of sudden death under anesthesia.4 After Rowan’s death, the reason for the scan was changed to assessing his pre-existing SVAS and PAS, with no mention of coronorary artery stenosis. SVAS and PAS can easily be assessed using ultrasound- with no need for sedation or general anesthesia.

Dr. Fripp, Dr. Kaya and Dr. Moore, as well as the other medical professionals at Radys, treated Rowan as a low-risk patient, when published medical knowledge suggested he be treated as the highest risk possible. Unfortunately, these doctors have not learned from their mistakes and are still attempting to put children with Williams Syndrome under general anesthesia unnecessarily.5

A number of negligent actions and decisions made in Rowan’s case by his doctors resulted in his death, but for me, a parent of two small children, the most heinous offense was committed when Dr. Kaya called Rowan’s parents the night of his death, a call supported by Rady, and suggested that Rowan died due to the stress from crying while being put under. The utter hubris in this statement is sickening and concerning, and one of the reasons why I started an online-petition to ask the Department of Health to open an investigation into Rowan’s death, which is currently underway. We have collected over 4,800 signatures from individuals who are demanding the doctors be held responsible, and that action be taken to prevent more preventable deaths from happening due to negligence and mis-information. I have included this petition, as well as comments made by signers.

Myself, and over 4,800 people believe an investigation in to Rowan’s death is not only the right thing to do, but imperative for the safety of many other vulnerable children in your State. We hope you agree.

2. Stamm et al. suggest that every patient with SVAS should be considered high risk for myocardial ischemia. The authors point out that procedures that produce a sudden drop in coronary perfusion pressure, such as anesthesia, have led to acute myocardial ischemia and procedure-related sudden death. In: Stamm C, Friehs I, Ho SY, Moran AM, Jonas RA, del Nido PJ. Congenital supravalvar aortic stenosis: a simple lesion? Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2001;19:195–202

3. A more recent study by Ergul et al. concluded that the incidence of coronary artery defects and myocardial ischemia in children with WS is much higher than previously thought. They went on to recommend more detailed non-invasive and awake testing before considering anesthesia, and the use of mild sedation rather than anesthesia if needed. “Many deaths have occurred during anesthesia/sedation …, suggesting that decreased cardiac output from anesthetic agents in concert with coronary artery abnormalities alter myocardial perfusion.” In: Ergul Y, Nisli K, Kayserili H, Karaman B, Basaran S, Dursun M, Yilmaz E, Ergul N, Unal SN, Dindar A. Evaluation of coronary artery abnormalities in Williams syndrome patients using myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and CT angiography. Cardiology J 2012; 19(3):301-308

4. In their review of the pathology of SVAS and the literature regarding sudden death associated with sedation and anesthesia, Burch et al. conclude that “with congenital SVAS, myocardial ischemia has been implicated in a majority of cases of sudden death occurring in conjunction with anesthesia or sedation. Features common to the reported cases are sudden, rapid hemodynamic deterioration associated with hypotension and bradycardia and lack of response to aggresive resuscitative measures”. They go on to further state that coronary arterial flow impairment can occur even in the absence of significant SVAS, and therefore caution should be taken regardless of the varying degrees of SVAS. In: Burch TM, McGowan FX, Kussman BD, Powell AJ, DiNardo JA. Congenital supravalvular aorticstenosis and sudden death associated with anesthesia: what’s the mystery? Anesth Analg. 2008 Dec; 107(6):1848-54

5. Comment from our online petition:
“I don’t even know where to begin… Reading this story is heartbreaking and I can’t imagine how this family feels. This story was brought to my attention a few months ago.. This hits very close to home. You see, we too live in San Diego and go to Rady’s hospital. My son actually goes to the same Cardiologist as Rowan did. Since my son was born we have had 3 Echo’s, All at Rady’s and all under sedation medicine. Most recently my sons heart went from Mild to Moderate and the Cardiologist said that giving my son sedation medicine has become more risky b/c once he eats the medicine its in his system and they have no control over it. Plus, when they do an echo it is with a nurse & Technician.. My Cardiologist suggested that our only next step would be to do an Echo under general anesthesia. Even though its more risky he would be in the hands of professionals and doctors and anesthesiologists in case something happened they would have “more control” I was very concerned obviously being that I have read so much on the WS Support page about the risks with our kids and anesthesia. I brought these concerns up to my doctor multiple times and I even brought up little Rowan b/c I had heard about him through one of our therapists whom we actually shared. My Cardiologist said it was the next step. At some point I just had to believe we were doing the right thing. But I was really scared and preparing myself for the worst. I happened to get a 2nd opinion 2 days ago at CHLA.. I was EXTREMELY surprised and shocked to have received a ECHO under with NO DRUGS AT ALL! I’m sorry but I have never been given the option. I had NO IDEA this was an option. We have sedated my baby 3 times for an ECHO and were about to put his life at risk under general Anesthesia because “this was our only option”. Are you kidding me? You can do an echo with no risk to my child’s life? You can imagine how i felt. This hospital has obviously not learned their lesson and although they did make us 1st case of the day and said he was “High Risk” They have put his life at risk unnecessarily 3 times. and were about to for a 4th. I’m sorry for the long post but after reading this I am heart broken for this family and because they shared their story I was much more aware of the risks and they helped possibly save my child. I will sign this petition and get every person I can to sign it too..”

*Note- it has since been determined that this child’s cardiologist is not the same cardiologist as Rowan’s (Dr. Fripp), but rather Dr. Moore, the head of cardiology at Rady

Please share wisely:

I have to admit, in the darkest to times, I have held onto the hope that Rowan’s doctor was a good guy. He was so sweet and kind, and soothingly spoke to us time and time again about our concerns. He met our daughter and talked to her lovingly about her little brother just days before he killed Rowan.

Surely, Rowan’s death spoke to him. Surely he had heeded the lessons learned. Surely, he understood the impact of what he had done. Surely, he understood the value of Rowan’s life.

Our greatest wish was to be a part of a community where we felt safe. Our intention is to help fill the gap in the community where Rowan was left behind.

We are thankful that the Williams Syndrome Association website was updated today (May 21, 2014). Though too late to avoid our family’s loss, we hope that another family will benefit from this information.

Rowan was killed at a renowned children’s hospital as a direct result of the careless and unnecessary use of general anesthesia for a “routine” outpatient diagnostic procedure .. against his mother’s wishes.

Want to help make a difference? Visit How To Take Action to speak out against medical negligence and special needs discrimination in healthcare.
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